Finding the Atarans a New Home

Posted on Thu Mar 7th, 2024 @ 5:55am by Captain Remy Johansen & Commander Maxun Spello & Ensign S'Niri

1,053 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Artifact or Artifiction
Location: The Serenity,
Timeline: MD 3, 1000 hours

Teams the day before had found over 120 people still alive in stasis units, a significantly larger number than previously believed. Teams were still scouring the ship, but the numbers had started leveling off. Once everyone had arrived, Remy began speaking.

"So, it's clear that these people are going to need a home. We'll hold off on final recommendations until we've had an opportunity to hopefully speak with them. But the medical team is working on reviving them as we speak, and I'd like to have some option for them - so we can give them hope. And for Starfleet, so if they throw out something dumb, we have other options ready," Remy said bluntly. "You all have unique specializations and life experiences that I thought would bring valuable insight to this decision. We've been learning a lot already, but this can be a moving meeting if anyone thinks taking a trip would help them learn more."

"Ferasa Prime is definitely off the menu." S'Niri didn't seem happy to mention her former home. "Even if we got my people to agree to hosting them and it wasn't in Klingon Empire territory. They'll rip these people from limb to limb."

Maxun was scrolling through the Federation planetary database, using several filters in the search as he did so. A few beats after S'Niri had spoke up, he offered, "What about New Sausalito? It's got a nice temperate climate, plenty of room still to stake a claim on. Database shows that there is currently only a Human population of thirty thousand. Mostly in the northern hemisphere."

"What do we know about the culture of the humans who have settled there?" Remy asked.

"According to the files, they are an agrarian society. Modern technology and social behavior. Federation Planetary Survey Department states that the soul is extremely fertile, just about any foodstuff can be grown there."

Nevan liked the sound of it. "They're going to need to be somewhere close to support in the event of a distress signal, we don't know what they've been through or how they're going to assimilate into society. And while our responsibility for them is more short term, the Federation is going to have to give them support in a more long term sense because at this point they're technically refugees. They have no home and we've taken on their care. So anywhere with an immediate external threat is out of the question. Inside of Federation territory is likely where they'll have to be." He stood up and walked over to the wall display, bringing up Maxun's recommendation. While he himself hadn't looked into it, at the moment he was more than happy to piggyback on the idea and support the man.

Remy spoke up, "Is there any issue with it being so close to Vulcan? To the Atarans, they are the Romulans - the people responsible for running them off their home world. And to them that may feel like yesterday."

Maxun frowned slightly as he considered the question. "I don't think so, Ma'am. There are several worlds between the two, plus, a request could be put to the Vulcans to be respectful of the Artaran's painful past."

"It's a good start, and may end up being the best option, but I don't want to close the discussion after only having one option on the table. We may end up negotiating with Starfleet on this, and possibly the Atarans themselves," Remy reminded them. "Next best options?"

"Considering the Vulcans are bound by the requirements for the Federation charter to assist refugees, their feelings about the Atarans would be immaterial, and in their beliefs, illogical. However we do have at least another option, one much farther away and there would be some much closer immediate support for that Atarans if they needed it." Nevan tapped in a set of coordinates and the display changed to show the Muratas Star Cluster.

"There's a series of planets here, sporadically inhabited and a number open that they could choose from. It's a longer trip so chances are they'd be handed off to a colony ship once stabilized but they'd be out of the concern of anyone immediately nearby and given their own space to grow and be part of the interplanetary consortium they have there. Only downside is how far away it would be from the Sol system so the check in's on them probably wouldn't be too often." He took a moment to get the general feeling around the room, making note that everyone seemed to be focused on finding an answer for the Captain.

Remy nodded. "There's still plenty of traffic through there, and it's well inside Federation space, so if they trust us they should feel relatively safe. Let's add it to our list," Remy stated. "I'm less concerned with the Vulcans and more concerned with the Atarans. If you were in their shoes and someone only presented one option, you'd probably feel backed into a corner. After some research if one of these stands out better than the others, we'll know how to sell it."

Nevan appreciated the Captain's acknowledgement and returned to his seat in order to return the opportunity to others to contribute their ideas and observations.

Remy continued, "We may have some opportunities for you to speak with some of them later tonight, or early tomorrow at the latest. In the meantime, Officer Fletcher can your team research what each of these sites would need in order to properly relocate the Atarans there. We should continue to think of other potential places as well. But from what Lieutenant Spello uncovered yesterday, two options are better than how they were faring before... well before whatever happened."

Fletcher was a little confused as to why the Captain was addressing him instead of his superior, and truth be told the young man didn't have much experience participating in such meetings. Usually he was a quiet observer or could provide something more as a subject matter expert in the field of piloting. In his confusion he looked over at Grexx who gave a shrug back at his friend. Nevan however, sensing both of them being lost in the situation, responded to the Captain instead "We'll take a look into both options and put a report together for you ma'am."

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